If season one of Lopez vs Lopez was all about the problems, one can say that season 2 is about solutions and moving on, which is refreshing and equally hilarious!

On April 2, NBC will premiere the second season of Lopez vs Lopez, with back-to-back episodes at 8 and 8:30 p.m., which will continue in those time slots going forward. 

“We’re back, baby,” George Lopez exclaims. Indeed! The first season of this comedy sitcom made its debut on NBC, November 2922, starring actor/comedian George Lopez and his real life daughter, Mayan Lopez, created by the Lopez duo and showrunner Debby Wolfe. 

“There might be some overlaps with the first season, George confides. “But this one deals with many more contemporary issues,” says Mayan. “There are millennial life decisions and other generational problems that my character needs to explore.”   “Yeah, her dad is trying to stay sober, that’s his generational issue,” George explains. 

Although the sitcom still is captures the Latino experience, George and Mayan feel there are other aspects that will be universally appealing to audiences no matter their background, which George attributes to the talent in the writers’ room. “On the show right now, we have a lot of Latine writers,” he explains. “We have people who are younger; we have people who are gay, and from every facet of everyday life.  They can write for all the shows and not just the one that deals with a specific issue. These stories are everybody’s stories. The friction between parents and their kids while getting older hasn’t changed.”

The comedy tells the story of a working-class, old-school blue collar worker,  who moves in with his modern Gen Z daughter as they rebuild their dysfunctional relationship one argument at a time. The season 2 opening episode addresses the problems of his alcoholism, and points out the “addictions” the family as a whole need to deal with.  Additionally, Mayan focuses on keeping a handle on the household which includes a son (Brice Gonzalez), her “Gringo” husband (Matt Shively), and her clean-freak mom played by Selenis Leyva. Though it all, George keeps reminding Mayan nachos are a finger food and that he is not to blame for all her troubles, her one liners comebacks are pristine!

“Mayan has been funny her whole life,” George affirms. “We’ll be working on the set and I can see her when she was five, seven and a 10-years-old girl. That’s the way my mind works. It’s hard for me sometimes to believe that the little girl, whose cord I cut in the hospitais the young lady who’s on the television show with me. It’s really beyond my imagination.” Contributing to George’s show vision are Mayan and Wolfe are the other series regulars, Selenis Leyva, Brice Gonzalez, Matt Shively and Al Madrigal. 

This season the cast of surprise guest stars include Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Diana Maria Riva, Jaime Camil and Marshawn Lynch.Creator/showrunner Debby Wolfe executive produces with Bruce Helford, George Lopez, Michael Rotenberg and Katie Newman. Lopez vs Lopez is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts.

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Warner Bros. DC Comic Book action/adventure movie Blue Beetle has all the prerequisite elements for a great superhero flick to take its place alongside the long litany of similar movie fare that dominates the theaters today.

Blue Beetle revolves around a very likable, attractive young hero, an ultra-evil villain who threatens to take over the world, an apocalyptic storyline replete with pyrotechnic fireworks, explosions, gun fights, and hand-to-hand combat. There’s a romantic interest, a sequel teaser coda, and a wonderful, pulsating, rhythmic Latino music soundtrack. But the not-so-secret key ingredient that makes Blue Beetle a tasty, palatable, delicious, cinematic feast is the cast.

A Super Latino Cast of Characters

Xolo Maridueña plays Jaime Reyes, a recent college graduate, the first in his Mexican-American family. Through a series of improbable events that require much suspension of disbelief, a beetle scarab possessing enormous powers becomes a parasite on his back, endowing him with powers he has no desire to have. Maridueña, who is best known for his continuing role as Miguel Diaz on Cobra Kai, is funny and disarming as the accidental, reluctant hero with superpowers he has no control over.

It is Maridueña’s affable, humorous self-effacing performance that sets the tone for Blue Beetle.

George Lopez, whose career has evolved from stand-up comic, late-night talk show host to TV sitcom star to becoming an accomplished character actor in such films as, The Spy Next Door and El Chicano, puts all that experience to good use as Jaime’s zany, eccentric Uncle Rudy who doesn’t miss a chance to chew up the scenery in his many hilarious scenes.

The talented, versatile Mexican actress Adriana Barraza who has distinguished herself in such diverse films as Babel and Thor, is Jaime’s grandmother, Nana Reyes. At first glance, Nana appears to be your typical, lovable Mexican abuela. But this granny harbors a secret past, or at least she hints at one. Nana suggests she once was a gun-toting revolutionary in some Latin American conflict.

In the exciting climatic battle, Nana shows her old revolutionary stuff by expertly firing a machine gun, much like Barraza did in Gigi Saul Guererro’s film Bingo Hell, all the while laughing out loud with obvious glee.

Jamie’s mother, Rocio Reyes, is played by legendary (and this writer’s favorite) Mexican actress Elpidia Carrillo. She has appeared in numerous big-time films like Salvador, The Border, and Predator and held her own alongside costars like James Woods, Jack Nicholson, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Carrillo has appeared in several Mexican independent films as well as starring in International and American films and TV. She has won a plethora of awards for her work on the big and small screen. She also hosts an annual film festival in her home state of Michoacan, Mexico.

Despite her impressive cinema and TV pedigree, Carillo regrettably only has a small part in Blue Beetle. But it is a pivotal part, and true to her commitment as an artist, she does a lot with what she is given.

The Family is the Real Power

Director Angel Manuel Soto (The Farm, La Carta, 22 Weeks) and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, (Contrapelo, Miss Bala, El Muerto) have combined their considerable talents to create a story that illuminates and brings into sharp focus the warmth, love, and humor of the Mexican American experience found in the Blue Beetle DC Comic Book stories.

There is a strong subtext to Blue Beetle that posits the idea that Jaime Reyes’ superpowers owe as much to his strong familial connections as it does to an arbitrary beetle scarab talisman. And who better to represent the strength of the family on the big screen to a wide audience than a Mexican-American one?

There are some funny Latino cultural references used in writer Dunnet-Alcoceaideser’s script, and director Soto leavens the furious action set pieces with glib, self-effacing ad-lib asides by Jaime as he valiantly tries to rein in his out-of-control, oversized beetle bug superpowers.

A Disappointment at the Box Office

Blue Beetle is a fun roller coaster ride replete with action, laughs, and quirky, likeable Mexican-American characters struggling, battling and loving within a rich Latino cultural motif that received generally positive critical reviews and enthusiastic audience feedback.

So, why didn’t Blue Beetle do better at the box office? It earned $25 million during its first theatrical week of release. As of this writing, its global box office receipts are under $100 million.

Several reasons contributed to its weak performance at the box office.

• Dump Month Factor. Warner Bros. released Blue Beetle to theaters in mid-August 2023. August, by many movie industry insiders, is considered a “dump month” for movies the studio doesn’t have much confidence in, as opposed to those released during the holidays.
• Lack of Marketing. Due to the WGA/SAG strike, Blue Beetle cast members did not appear on late night TV shows to chat up the film. TV commercials promoting the film were rare compared to the avalanche of ads for Barbie.
• Blame it on Hillary. No, not that Hillary, the other Hillary, Tropical Storm Hillary. Hillary descended on Southern California just in time for the theatrical release of Blue Beetle. It was reported that the heavy rains put a damper on theater attendance.
• The DC Cinema Universe Losing Streak. Whereas the Marvel Universe churns one highly successful adventure superhero film after another, the DC Cinema Universe has turned out one box office turkey after another. The last most recent one, in a string of many box office failures was Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Hope “Streams” Eternal

In 1946, Hollywood iconic director, Frank Capra, saw his film, It’s A Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore, open to a universal chorus of boo bird movie critics who ravaged his film for its style and content. It suffered miserably at the box office as well.

But with the advent of television, It’s A Wonderful Life over time became an annual Christmas viewing tradition and achieved a cult status which it still enjoys today.

When Blue Beetle is picked up by some streaming platform, a similar fate could befall this movie, too. On a streaming platform, it could gain the traction it didn’t get in the theaters and become a minor cult classic. With some newfound success, Blue Beetle could result in a sequel, maybe a franchise, and who knows, eventually a Broadway musical based on the DC Comic Mexican-American superhero.

A strong streaming performance could also convince the studio executives at Sony Pictures to rethink their decision to shelve Bad Bunny’s El Muerto and bring it back to life (bad pun intended).

So, let’s not throw out the big bug with the bath water just yet. Blue Beetle has a lot going for it; a great cast, storyline, and cultural diversity, which is so badly lacking in the world of superhero films today.

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The lead role of Jaime Reyes (AKA “Blue Beetle”) is portrayed by the talented Xolo Maridueña known to audiences from his role in the TV show Cobra Kai.  Blue Beetle also boasts a remarkable cast that includes George Lopez (Lopez vs. Lopez), Elpidia Carillo (Predator), Academy Award-nominated actress Adriana Barraza (Babel, Rambo: Last Blood), Harvey Guillen, newcomer Belissa Escobedo (American Horror Story, The Baker and the Beauty), Raoul Max Trujillo (Mayans M.C.), and Hollywood star Susan Sarandon (Bull Durham, Thelma & Louise). Additionally, the renowned singer Becky G lends her voice to the film as “Khaja-Da.”

The community screening, totally funded by the presenting entities, comes at a crucial time for the film industry, with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG/Aftra) currently on strike, the talent of the film are not able to promote the opening of the film.  That is when the organizations saw the need to rally support for Blue Beetle, a groundbreaking movie that holds significant importance for the future of Latino representation in Hollywood. This film showcases Latinos in a positive light, breaking barriers and paving the way for more inclusive storytelling in the entertainment industry. A special effort was made to include groups of student to attend because they will see themselves represented on the big screen.

In a city where Latinos make up 50% of the population, three screenings alone are not enough to spread the word. Latin Heat Media and HCSB are committed to ensuring that more individuals and in particular the students, have the opportunity to enjoy the film at the screening and be empowered by seeing a superhero who looks like them. The response has been overwhelming.  An hour after posting the free tickets on social media, all tickets were gone.

Bel Hernandez, President/CEO of Latin Heat Media and Chair of HCSB’s Arts and Entertainment Committee, emphasizes the importance of engaging the Latino audience in supporting films that authentically represent their community. “The power of the Latino audience has not always been fully tapped, especially when it comes to movies as important as Blue Beetle. The studios must involve and market to our community. Warner Bros., the studio releasing this film, hasn’t always had a stellar track record with Latino-focused film marketing. It’s time to see a commitment to our community and an  adequate marketing investment if they wish to access our significant consumer buying power.”

According to the Motion Picture Association (MPA), Latinos who comprise 19% of the population, accounted for 29% of movie tickets sold in 2020, and this trend continues to grow. Latin Heat Media and HCSB’s Arts and Entertainment Committee are dedicated to promoting awareness of projects with Latino participation, aiming to increase the visibility of the Latino representation in the entertainment industry.

The community screening of Blue Beetle promises to be an unforgettable event, celebrating diversity and unity, and inclusivity, and hopefully, a catalyst for more audience to go see it on their own.

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The show is resonating with audiences, but U.S. Latinos have had the strongest impact on the ratings for Lopez vs. Lopez. The show had the highest concentration of English-dominant U.S. Latinos homes among all broadcast primetime series. For the live + 35 (35 days after) viewing, Lopez vs. Lopez it had the highest portion of “long-tail” viewing among all NBC comedies on Peacock, meaning Lopez vs. Lopez is viewed more after its initial episode airing date than any other series on NBC.

Lopez vs. Lopez will return midseason, joining other returning scripted shows that includes Law & Order: Organized Crime, La Brea and Magnum P.I.

We can now look forward to another season the dysfunctional Lopez family that explores the pain, joy and comedy that ensues after the euphoria of the reunion dies down and new challenges ensue. Father and daughter are working hard to get along and their familia is there to to help. The rest of the family includes Matt Shively playing Mayan’s husband, Brice Gonzalez as Mayan’s son, Selenis Leyva as Mayan’s mother-in-law, and Al Madrigal, plying George’s loyal sidekick.

Lopez vs. Lopez creator/showrunner Debby Wolfe executive produces with Bruce Helford, George Lopez, Michael Rotenberg, and Katie Newman. Mayan Lopez is on board as a producer.

Lopez vs Lopez is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts

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The story is based on the characters from DC, and it is written by Gareth Dunnet Alcocer and is directed by Angel Manuel Soto.  Beginning with the writer and director, Blue Beetle is truly a Latino led film.

Recent college grad Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.

In addition to Xolo Maridueña, the rest of the cast is a literal who’s who of Latinoa talent, starting off with Oscar nominated Adriana Barraza (Babel, CSI: Miami), and some of the most notable actors in Hollywood: Damían Alcázar (La Ley de Herodes, Narcos), Elpidia Carrillo (Predator, Salvador), Bruna Marquezine (Salve al Rey, La Guerrera) Raoul Max Trujillo (Apocalypto, Zorro Negro) Belissa Escobedo (The Baker and The Beauty) Harvey Guillén (What we do in the Shadows, The Internship), Susan Sarandon (Atlantic City, Thelma and Louise) and George Lopez (Lopez VS Lopez, The Adventures of Sharkboy and LavaGirl).

Blue Beetle will premiere at theaters nationwide on August 18, 2023.

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Christmas comes to the dysfunctional home of the Lopez’s. It’s the Lopez vs. Christmas episode of NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez Christmas holiday special which brings back some of the original cast from the George Lopez TV series that ran on ABC in the early to mid 2000’s. The comedy series, which was recently given a full season order of 22 episodes, stars real live father and son George Lopez and Mayan Lopez. The special episode will air Friday, December 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

It’s Navidad at the Lopezes and the goal is to get Mayan’s divorced parents to spend Christmas together. Mayan must convince Rosie, her mom (Selenis Leyva) to hand in her Christmas crown and George to give up the thing he loves most — beer. When the invited guests, played by four of the original cast members of ABC’s George Lopez show (reuniting after 15 years) Constance Marie, Valente Rodriguez, Luis Armand Garcia and Belita Moreno arrive, what is left to be seen is if the Lopezes bring holiday cheer, or will they turn the night into a Latino holiday drama? 

In Lopez vs Lopez George and Mayan portray a fictionalized version of their real-life father-daughter relationship on the small screen. The series was inspired by Mayan’s real life Tik Tok postings about her estranged dad (George) and herself. Creator and Showrunner Debby Wolfe saw Mayan’s Tik Toc and knew there was a show in there. NBC describes the show as a working-class family comedy about dysfunction, reconnection, and all the pain and joy in between.

Lopez vs Lopez is not a sequel of ABC’s George Lopez show. But if audience are curious to check out the show that ran for six season, it is currently streaming on Peacock.

The comedy airs every Friday at 8 p.m. on NBC

Lopez vs Lopez is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group in association with Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts.

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The Golden Globes are back and getting a little help to jump start the return of the awards show presented by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Comedic father-daughter duo George and Mayan Lopez will present the nominees for the 80th Annual Golden Globe® Awards on Monday, Dec. 12. 

A look at the nominations announcement will air LIVE from 5:35-5:40 a.m. PT/ 8:35-8:40 a.m. ET on “TODAY” on NBC. Nominees will be highlighted across Golden Globes social media accounts as they are announced. The complete list of nominees will be available online at the Golden Globes website (GoldenGlobes.com) immediately following the announcement.

George and Mayan Lopez, creators and stars of the new NBC comedy Lopez vs Lopez, will present the five nominees for each of the 27 award categories at the Beverly Hilton. George and Mayan star in the heartwarming comedy about a working-class old-school Latino who moves in with his modern Gen Z daughter. Lopez vs Lopez airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on NBC, streaming the next day on Peacock. George serves as an Executive Producer and Mayan both writes and produces for the series. 

Film categories for the 2023 Golden Globe Awards include: Best Motion Picture (Drama); Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy); Best Motion Picture (Animated); Best Motion Picture (Non-English Language); Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama); Best Performance By an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama); Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy); Best Performance By an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy); Best Performance By an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture; Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture; Best Director; Best Screenplay; Best Original Score; and Best Original Song.

Television categories for the 2023 Golden Globe Awards include: Best Television Series (Drama); Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy); Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television; Best Performance by an Actress i

n a Television Series (Drama); Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Drama); Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy); Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy); Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television; and Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television. 

Four new television category awards were introduced earlier this year and will be awarded for the first time at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards ceremony, which will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, airing LIVE coast-to-coast from 5-8 p.m. PT/8-11 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The new categories include Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical- Comedy or Drama Television Series; Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical- Comedy or Drama Television Series; Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television; and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. The four new awards will replace the former awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television and Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.

The Golden Globes were one of the first awards show to embrace diversity.  Past Latino Golden Globe winners include Benicio del Toro, America Ferrera, Jimmy Smits, Rita Moreno, Gina Rodriguez, and Mario Moreno “Cantinflas”.  Nominees have included Salma Hayek, Edgar Ramirez, Andy Garcia and others. 

Produced by Dick Clark productions and Jesse Collins Entertainment in association with the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards are viewed in more than 210 territories worldwide. Helen Hoehne is president of the HFPA. Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon will serve as executive producers.

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Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, the Showcase aims to showcase the next generation of Latino entertainment industry professionals, as well as to promote Latino-themed projects. In addition to the screenings of new filmmakers, this year’s featured speakers include George Lopez, Mayan Lopez and Selenis Leyva, stars of Lopez vs. Lopez.

Screening this year is the Official Selection short, Hoar directed by Jeanette Dilone, El Triste directed by Manuel De Valle, Inés Unfortunately directed by Anna Salinas, Fernanda directed by Mar Molina, The Lifers Network directed by Michael Steves, Soñadora directed by Stacy Pascal Gaspard, and Brownsville Bred directed by Elaine Del Valle.

“NBCUniversal and Telemundo are excited to partner with NALIP and the Latino Media Fest as it returns this year to an in-person celebration” said Craig Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, NBCUniversal. “These festivals champion the work of artists from underrepresented groups telling diverse stories and we’re proud to help expand their opportunities.”

“NALIP is thrilled to be back in person with the Latino Media Fest! Through this platform, we promote the artists we’ve helped cultivate through our network of opportunities,” said Karla Pita Loor, chair of NALIP’s Board of Directors and Executive Vice President of enterprise inclusion and social responsibility at Banijay Americas.

For full agenda & program details at www.latinomediafest.com

Twitter (@nalip_org), Instagram (@nalip_org), and Facebook (Nalip Org)

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By Bel Hernandez

Lopez vs. Lopez NBC Series Order; Sabado Gigante Docu Series Coming

Yesterday, May 11, NBC announced that they had picked up the multi-camera comedy Lopez Vs. Lopez to series.

George Lopez and his daughter Mayan Lopez (Mr. Troop Mom) star in the comedy about a dysfunctional working-class family reconnecting embracing all the pain and joy that comes with it.

In addition to the Lopez duo, series regulars include Selenis Leyva (Orange is the New Black), Matt Shively (American Housewife) and six year old TikTok influencer Brice Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot).  

Leyva plays Mayan’s mother Rosie and George’s ex-wife.  Her character is a self-proclaimed “best” insurance agent in town.  Six year old Gonzalez is Chance, Mayan and Quinten’s (Shively) five-year-old son and George’s favorite “grandchild”. 

On May 11 when the show was ordered to series, it was George who took to social media to post on Instagram. Today was a good…GREAT DAY!!!! @mayanlopez WE GOT A SHOW MIJA!!! Get read for LIGHTS CAMERA.  

Salvadoran-American writer Debby Wolfe came up with the idea for the series.  She took it to Bruce Helford (The Connor) who in turn put her in touch with George and Mayan.

Back in October 2021 when NBC ordered the pilot Mayan took to Instagram to say how thrilled at working with her dad, “I have always dreamed about working side by side with dad @georgelopez and now we get to bring our story, dysfunction, and laughter to the screen.”

Helford through his Mohawk Productions banner and Wolfe through her Mi Vida Loba production company are executive producing along with George Lopez’s Travieso Productions. Mayan is on board as a producer.

Don Francisco Sábado Gigante Docuseries

Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado filmmakers Alex Fumero and Kareem Tabsch are partnering up with Mario Kreutzberger AKA Don Francisco to produce a docuseries about his popular Spanish-Language variety show, Sabado Gigante. The Disney’s Onyx Collective has greenlit the four-part limited docuseries entitled Gigante which will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories at a future date.

No, it will not be a remake of the weekend variety show which aired in the U.S. on Univision for 53 years, making it the longest-running variety series in world history, still to date. The producers will focus the docuseries on the political and cultural impact the show hosted by Chilean host Kreutzberger and loved by millions around the world.

The variety show was an amalgamation of celebrity performances, scantily clad women, games, and human interest interviews. Celebrities who appeared throughout the year include Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Prince Royce. A young Enrique Iglesias launched his singing career on Sabado Gigante. When a very young Marc Anthony appeared on the show, Don Francisco surprised him by having his dad, who Marc had not seen in a while, show up and both sang a song written by his dad

During its run, among the awards the show garnered were, on the highest order, an Emmy Award and the Papal Benemerenti Medal from Pope Juan Pablo II were bestowed to Sabado Gigante.

Young Rock Gets a 2nd Season

I saw it for the first time last week and I loved it! Now that Young Rock has been picked up for a 2nd season by NBC, I will tune in for more.

Inspired by Dwayne Johnson’s life the show revolves loosely around his young life and his athletic life.  Family love abounds in this series and Young Rock is ready to live life to the fullest,and takes advantage of all the love and help he can get from his family.  It is a fast roller coaster ride as the story delves into Young Rock’s pro wrestling adventure to his football life at the University of Miami.   

Congratulations to the executive producers Nahnatchka Khan, Dwayne Johnson, Jeff Chiang, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Brian Gewirtz and Jennifer Carreras and the cast. Adrian Groulx who plays Dwayne Johnson at 10 years old; Bradley Constant who plays Johnson at age 15; and Uli Latufeku at age 21.

I guess being NBC’s #1 primetime comedy in the 18-49 demo (L+7) is key to getting a series renewed.

Catch up on season 1 of Young Rock episodes on Peacock

The post ‘Lopez vs. Lopez’ NBC Series Order; ‘Gigante’ DocuSeries; ‘Young Rock’ Gets 2nd Season first appeared on .

When she was in first grade, Annie Gonzalez would often stare into space in class. That got both her teacher and mother concerned. 

Asked what was the matter, the 7-year-old replied she imagined herself as an actress one day getting on a stage to pick up her Oscar and Tony awards. “I have wanted to be a performer since I was a little girl,” says Gonzalez. “I never saw myself doing anything else.”

Her mother encouraged little Annie to hit the books and pursue her dreams. Three years later, the little brown girl landed her first acting gig, playing a Guatemalan immigrant in the ABC police procedural drama television series Without a Trace. “I had to get a haircut for the role,” she recalls. 

That was the beginning of a long road in search of roles for the actress who identifies as a Chicana, an American woman who’s proud of her Mexican descent. She was one of the original dancers on Jamm X Kids for the former WB Television Network and went on to other small roles in movies like Mitú’s Beauty School and 20th Century Fox’s Spies in Disguise and series like Showtime’s Shameless and Starz’s award-winning Vida. 

Those minor parts are of big importance for Gonzalez. “I’d say every single project has amalgamated the actress I am now,” she states.

Then came Gentefied, the Netflix series that gave Gonzalez her breakout role. Premiered right before the beginning of the pandemic in February of 2020, the show is about gentrification, family and dreams of a better life centered on three Mexican-American cousins in the East L.A. community of Boyle Heights. She has the role of Lidia Solis, the pregnant and highly educated girlfriend of Erik Morales, one of the central characters played by J.J. Soria. Gentefied is executive produced by America Ferrera (Superstore, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and created by Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chavez.

“Playing Lidia has opened me up and matured me so much as an actress,” she says. “She is a woman anyone can relate to, who feels pain, has weaknesses, shows vulnerabilities, who has gone through so much and done a lot.” In Gentefied’s second season, which returned in early November, Gonzalez’s character becomes a mother, moves to Palo Alto and starts a new job at Stanford University. “I feel Lidia thinks she has to carry the world on her shoulders,” says the actress. “But she’s human and, like any human, she makes mistakes.”

The multilayered Lidia raised Gonzalez’s profile and may have helped her secure a starring role in the upcoming film Flamin’ Hot from Searchlight Pictures, which marks the directorial debut of actress Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives fame. The biopic tells the story of Ricardo Montañez, the Latino who reportedly created the popular snack Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and who is played by actor Jesse Garcia. Gonzalez’s role is Judy Montañez, the wife of the Cheetos’ inventor. Shot this past summer in New Mexico, the film’s release date is yet to be announced.

Gonzalez credits Longoria and other renowned actresses for opening up doors for new generations of Chicanos and Latinos in showbusiness. “I wouldn’t have been able to do my work without the predecessors paving the way for us, people like Eva Longoria, America Ferrera, Linda Yvette Chavez and Rita Moreno,” Gonzalez states. “They all have shown us that beautiful brown girls can make it in Hollywood.”

One can expect to see more of Gonzalez in the near future. In addition to Flamin’ Hot, she’s been cast in Once Upon in Aztlan, a drama starring and exec produced by George Lopez that the comedian is currently developing for Amazon Prime Video. Gonzales also appears in The Edge of Her Mind Anthology: Her Movies Vol 1, an upcoming collection of independent drama shorts focused on women’s mental health. The Chicana stars in the short Cafe Abundance playing a woman who breaks down in the middle of a hip restaurant.

All those accomplishments earned Gonzalez to be the inaugural recipient of Latin Heat’s Rising Star Award this month. “It is no surprise Annie has booked three major roles in a span of just a little over two years,” says Bel Hernandez, the founder, and publisher of this trade publication that covers Latinos in Hollywood. “She is talented, authentic, and smart, qualities that make for a rising star.” Adds Hernandez, “In 30 years Latin Heat has covered many rising talents like Jennifer Lopez, Jay Hernandez and Salma Hayek on their journey to stardom. We feel Annie is on the same trajectory, and are honored to award her the Latin Heat Rising Star Award”.

Gonzalez has big hopes for her career in 2022 and the coming years. “I’d love to be able to do another two features and star in a comedy,” she says. “I want to demonstrate the full range of my acting chops. Also, I have a lot of stories to tell.”

Apparently, some fantasies of 7-year-old Annie, the first-grader from East Los Angeles, have been coming true. Maybe the major awards she dreamt off could arrive soon, as well. 

Featured Photo: Annie Gonzalez (Photo: Juan Veloz)

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